Flashbulb holder



Dec. 28, 1965 E. R. STRAIGHT 3,225,922

FLASHBULB HOLDER Filed Oct. 23, 1963 INVENTOR. EDWARD R STRAIGHT 7 HI AT 0 NEYS.

United States Patent )fitice 3,225,922 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 3,225,922 FLASHBULB HOLDER Edward R. Straight, 1661 Sweets Corners Road, Penfield, N.Y. Filed Oct. 23, 1963, See. No. 318,334 Claims. (Cl. 20665) This invention relates to a holder for flash lamps, that has general utility for other articles that are shaped so as to be compatible with the holder. The invention also relates to a novel package of flash lamps or other delicate article.

Photographic flash lamps are now available that are no larger than an acorn. These lamps ordinarily are formed with a glass bulb that is of generally cylindrical configuration, and that is formed at its lower end with a fin or web through which the electrode filaments are extended. This web is formed in its opposite faces with a pair of grooves or ruts.

Such small flash lamps are frequently packaged today by mounting them in an extremely simple holder that is formed by making an axially-extending slit along the length of an extruded, resilient plastic tube. The individual lamps are then inserted in the slit, with the jaws that are formed at each side of the slit engaging in the tracks that are provided by the aligned grooves in the opposite faces of the lamp web.

Although this kind of a holding element is simple and relatively inexpensive, it is not completely satisfactory from the customers point of view. It is diflicult to form a plastic tube that can be slit and that will have enough resilience to grip the lamp fins firmly, without damaging the lamps upon their withdrawal and insertion between the jaws of the split tube. Since these lamps ordinarily are formed with their electrode filaments projecting from the lower ends of the lamp fins, harsh jaw action can and frequently does damage these filaments. This is a particularly frequent and annoying occurrence when the flash lamps are packaged in the split tube, in a display box together with a camera, during busy buying seasons when customers who are unfamiliar with cameras are inspecting the goods. At such times, the customers exhibit a natural curiosity and frequently will withdraw and replace a flash lamp in its split tube several times, in the process of satisfying their curiosity. The subsequent damage to the lamp electrodes is a great source of annoyance to the ultimate purchaser.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive holder for flash lamps and other delicate articles, thatcan be used without the hazard of damaging the articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a practical package or holder for flash lamps that is competitive in price with the familar split tube, but that is safe to use.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a practical holding element for use with small flash lamps, that will permit the repeated removal of a flash lamp from the holder and its reinsertion, without damaging the lamp or its delicate electrode filaments.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims. To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements in the structure and arrangement, and in certain combinations, of parts, all as will hereinafter be more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package of small flash lamps that are mounted in a holding element that is constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention, and showing one flash lamp partly removed from the holding element by sliding it lengthwise of the element;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, of an assembly such as is shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, of a holding element that is constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of this invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings by numerals of reference, the numeral 10 denotes generally a package that represents a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, and that consists of a plurality of small flash lamps 11 that are mounted in a holding element 12. Each of these small flash lamps is formed with a bulbous body 14 of generally cylindrical configuration, that is formed with an attenuated top 15 at its upper end. The lamp body 14 is formed at its lower end with an axiallyprojecting, downwardly-extending web or fin 16. This fin is formed in its opposite faces with a pair of grooves 18, that are aligned with each other, and that extend across the full width of the web, to provide a neck of reduced thickness between the two grooves.

The electrode filaments of the lamp are led out through the web 16 and project through its lower end. The projecting ends of the electrode filaments 20 are formed into loops 21 that are bent backwardly on themselves, to overlie a small portion of the surface of the web at its lower end. Each lamp has two of these loops, and one is turned over onesurface of the web, and the other is turned over the opposite surface of the web, as is shown in FIG. 2. V

The holding element 12 is generally U-shaped in crosssection, and preferably is formed in a continuous manner by extruding a suitable synthetic plastic material. This element is formed with a base 24 and with a pair of arms 25 and 25 respectively, that are integral with the base and that project in the same direction from the opposite lateral edges of the base. These arms are spaced from each other along their respective lengths and at their free ends. These arms are formed at their outer ends respectively with confronting ridges 28 and 28 that converge toward each other. Preferably, these ridges are founded, to be convex toward each other, but they may be pointed as well as gently rounded.

The arms 25 and 25' of the holding element 12 are sufliciently pliable and resilient to permit the web 16 of a flash lamp to be inserted therebetween, either by placing the lamp at the end of the holding element, with the grooves 18 aligned with the ridges 28 and 28', and then sliding the lamp lengthwise of the holdingelement, or alternatively, by bringing the lower end of the lamp'into engagement with the free ends of the arms of the holder, and then forcibly inserting the end of the lamp web between the holder arms. In either case, the holder should be proportioned so that the ridges at the ends of the arms can engage in the tracks that are provided by the grooves in the web, and grip the lamp web under a slight, resilient pressure.

A package that is made up in accordance with the invention, and such as is illustrated in FIG. 1, is practical, convenient, and inexpensive. Moreover, the delicate electrode filaments are protected against damage. If an individual flash lamp is removed from the holding element by sliding it lengthwise of the holding element, there is no risk of damage to the electrode filaments since the arms of the holding element are formed, as is shown clearly in FIG. 2, to provide suflicient room to accomodate the remote or distal end of the lamp web without necessarily engaging either of the electrode filaments. Should the lamp be removed from the holder by pulling it out from between the arms that engage its web, the

pressure that is forcibly inserting the web of the lamp,

and the curved surfaces of the two ridges ride easily over the filaments and smoothly slide into the grooves in the opposite faces of the lamp web.

The holding element preferably is formedas a continuous extrusion of an elast-omeric material such as, for example, a suitable polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride resin. However, while this is a preferred method of manufacture of the holding element, other suitable methods of manufacture are available as will be recognized readily by those skilled in the art. Many materials other than polyethylene and po-lyvinyl chloride are suitable for use, including other polyolefins, rubber, and many other different kinds of synthetic resins.

While the holding element of the present invention is particularly suited for use in the packaging of flash lamps, it is also useful and advantageous as a holding element for other delicate articles that are formed with projecting fins or webs that can be inserted between the arms of the element, in the same fashion as can the lamp webs.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, the modified embodiment of the holding element that is shown there is generally H-shaped in section and has a base 30'. Four arms 31, 32, 33 and 34 extend from the four lateral edges of the base 3ll, in generally symmetrical fashion relative to the base. The arms 31 and 32 are formed with ridges 35 and 36 at their respective free ends, that project toward each other and that are smoothly curved to. be convex toward each other. Similarly, the arms 33 and 34 are formed at their free ends with ridges 37 and 38 respectively. that project toward each other and that are smoothly curved ,to be convex toward each other. While it-is preferred that the ridges 35,.' 36, 3'7 and 38 be smoothly curved, they maybe sharply curved or pointed.

' This modified form of holding element permits the insertion of lamp webs or fins between both pairs of arms thereof, so that twice as many lamps can be held a given holding element, per unit of length, as is the case withthe holding element that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Its operation and use is substantially the same as thatof the holding element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,.

except that both pairs of arms are used.

This modified holding element preferably is also formed as an extrusion from a material such as, for example, a polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or other suitable resin;

Whilethe invention has been disclosed herein by reference to the details of preferred embodiments thereof,

it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than in a limiting sense, and it is contemplated that various modificaions in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and theiscope of the appended claims.

I claim: if

1. A package comprising at least one flash lamp that product from an extrusion of a homogeneous synthetic plastic material and that has a flat, ribbon-like base and a pair of upstanding arms that project from said base a ong pp s te m gin l ge th reo a at e.

spaced from each other along their respective lengths and at their respective free ends to form a longitudinal opening between said free ends, and that are formed at their outer ends respectively with confronting rounded, convex ridges that converge toward each other and open outward, said arms being sufficiently pliable and resilient to permit the insertion therebetween, at any point along the length of the element, of the distal end of a lamp fin that has a greater thickness than the normal distance between the converging ridges at the ends of said arms, and to permit said ridges to engage in said grooves, resiliently to grasp the inserted fin and hold said fin and said distal end between said arms with said bulbous body disposed outward beyond said arms. i

2. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holding element is formed with a second pair of arms that project from the base in the opposite direction to said first-mentioned pair of arms and that are generally symmetrical about said base with said first-mentioned pair of arms, and that are formed in a fashion similar to said first-mentioned pair of arms for receiving lamp fins therebetween, whereby said element has a generally H-shaped cross section. v

3. A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holding element is formed from an extruded polyolefin resin.

4. A holder for a flashbulb that has a bulbous body that is formed at its terminal end with an outwardly projecting, rigid web that has a proximal end connecting with the bulbous body and a distal end remote from the bulbous body, said distal end having exposed electric terminals, said web having a pair of opposed faces in which are formed a pair of opposed, aligned tracks, said web being 0t reduced thickness between said tracks relative to the distal portion of said web, said holder comprising an elongate, unitary element of generally U-shaped cross-section that'is formed as a finished product from an extrusion of a homogeneous"syntheticplastic material and that has a pair of upstanding arms that are spaced from each other along their lengths to receive said web and hold sa d distal end and said terminals therebetween and that are formed at their outer ends respectively with confronting, rounded convex ridges that converge toward each other and open outward and that are spaced apart less than the thicknessof said distal end of said web, and said arms being sufficiently pliable and resilient to permit the insertion therebetween or withdrawal from therebetween at any point along the length of said element of said distal end of said web of a lamp without injury to said terminals and to permit said ridges to engage in said tracks and resiliently to grasp said web so as to retain lamp in place with said distal end housed between said arms. I i V v 5. The holder of claim 4 wherein said element is formed with a second pair of arms that project in the opposite direction from said first-mentioned pair of arms, and that are generally symmetrical to said first-mentioned pair of arms, and that are formed in a fashion similar to said first-mentioned pair of arms, whereby said element has a generally l-shaped cross-section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE FLASH LAMP THAT IS FORMED WITH A BULBOUS BODY THAT HAS AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING, RIGID FIN THAT HAS A PROXIMAL END ADJACENT THE BULBOUS BODY OF THE LAMP AND A DISTAL END REMOTE FROM THE BODY OF THE LAMP, AND THAT HAS A PAIR OF OPPOSED FACES IN WHICH IT IS FORMED WITH A PAIR OF ALIGNED GROOVES RESPECTIVELY, THE FIN BEING OF REDUCED THICKNESS BETWEEN SAID GROOVES RELATIVE TO THE DISTAL PORTION OF THE FIN, AND A HOLDING ELEMENT FOR THE LAMPS THAT IS OF GENERALLY USHAPED CROSS-SECTION AND THAT IS FORMED AS A FINISHED PRODUCT FROM AN EXTRUSION OF A HOMOGENEOUS SYNTHETIC PLASTIC MATERIAL AND THAT HAS A FLAT, RIBBON-LIKE BASE AND A PAIR OF UPSTANDING ARMS THAT PROJDCT FROM SAID BASE ALONG OPPOSITE MARGINAL EDGES THEREOF, AND THAT ARE SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ALONG THEIR RESPECTIVE LENTHS AND AT THEIR RESPECTIVE FREE ENDS TO FORM A LONGITUDINAL OPENING BETWEEN SAID FREE ENDS, AND THAT ARE FORMED AT THEIR OUTER ENDS RESPECTIVELY WITH CONFRONTING ROUNDED, CONVEX RIDGES THAT CONVERGE TOWARD EACH OTHER AND OPEN OUTWARD, SAID ARMS BEING SUFFICIENTLY PLIABLE AND RESILIENT TO PERMIT THE INSERTION THEREBETWEEN, AT ANY POINT ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE ELEMENT, OF THE DISTAL END OF A LAMP FIN THAT HAS A GREATER THICKNESS THAN THE NORMAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CONVERGING RIDGES AT THE ENDS OF SAID ARMS, AND TO PERMIT SAID RIDGES TO ENGAGE INM SAID GROOVES, RESILIENTLY TO GRASP THE INSERTED FIN AND HOLD SAID FIN AND SAID DISTAL END BETWEEN SAID ARMS WITH SAID BULBOUS BODY DISPOSED OUTWARD BEYOND SAID ARMS. 